Guide to Hiking China's Old Road to Shu

The Road to Shu was built by the Qin state in the 4th century B.C.to facilitate its conquest of Shu, today’s Sichuan Province. The Qin state eventually went on to conquer the remainder of China in 221 B.C., but its reign was short, and it was the Han dynasty whichfollowed (206 B.C.–220 A.D.) that improved and enlarged the Qin imperial road system, adding flagstone paving, post houses to lodgegovernment couriers, and barrier points manned by the military to check credentials of merchants and regulate traffic. Private innsalso grew up to serve the many traders passing through, and goodsfrom the far corners of the empire came pouring into the capital at Chang’an (today’s Xi’an) over the imperial highways. The Roadto Shu became one of the most important roads in the country duringthis period, supplying the capital not only with Sichuan commoditiessuch as salt, iron, and coal, but with fine luxury items, as well, including the silk and lacquerware that would eventually leave Chang’an and make its way across Central Asia on the Silk Road. Theimportance of the Road to Shu diminished in the 10th century whenthe capital left the Xi'an region for good, but it continued to be an important regional artery until it was finally replaced by a highway between 1935 and 1941.To check out the additional excerpts, clickon the Plank Roads link first and then follow the next link on that page.